Apparatus for disintegrating sugar cane



Oct.. 25, 1927. 1,646,761

W. H. MORGAN, SR

APPARATUS FOR DISINTEGRATING SUGAR CANE Oct. 25, 1927. f 1,646,761

w. H. MORGAN. sR

APPARATUS FOR DISINTEGRATING SUGAR GANE Filed June 4. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ao: "Ms

Patented Oct. 25, 1927.

il h. S

WILLIAM HENRY MORGAN, SR., OF ALLIANCE, GHO, ASSIGNOB TO WILLIAM H. MORGAN, G1R., OF ALLIANCE, OHO.

Arranarns ron nrsm'rnenarnve susan Gann. i'

Application filed June 4, 1925.

lily invention relates to an improvement in continuous rotary centrifugal shear adapted particularly tor convertingr sugar cane or other sugar producing," material into a fibrous mass which will readily pass through juice eXtrem/tine'` rolls, and whichis designed to be used in connection with other mechanism tor eatiacting;- the juice :from the cane, and is an improvement on the construction disclosed in. my application No. tiled December 12th, 1924;.

The object ot the present improvement is to provide means tor housing1 the sheared material ejected at the periphery ot the disintenrator and positively conveyingl it to a discharge spout so that it may be ted in a comparatively small and compact mass to a conveyor leading to the juice extracting apparatus.

vWith this and other objects in view my invention consists in the parts and combination ot parts as will be more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in vertical cross section ot the apparatus; Figure 2 is a view in plan of the salue and Figure is a. view in plan ot the top, the stationary disk being' removed.

ln using my shredder or disintegrator the cane is cut into short lengths, about six inches more or less and these cut sections are then ted tothe disintegrator which is located in the mill.

The cane prepared in the manner above described is ted into an opening Vor openings 6 inthe top member or plate 'Y ot the rotary shear, which plate is stationary and heldin place by the supporting member 8. `The feed opening or openings are located near the center ot plate i' which 4is circular in torni and slightly conical. lt is provided centrally with an opening` closed by cap 9 which covers theV upper end ot shaft 10. This plate 7 is provided on its under side with a series otstrain'htvgrooves which `radiate from the center ot themember, andk each groove carries a shear blade or knite 11 which latter is beveled at Vits side edges and wedge shaped longitudinally the thicker Serial No. 311,878.

co-act with the knives 12 located within grooves 13 formed in the lower plate 14. This lower plate is circular in form, ol less diameter than the upper plate and is rigidly secured centrally to the upper end ot shaft 10. This lower plate is flat so that when combined with the upper plate a gradually decreasing space is formed between the two plates, the space in the outer edge or periphery being comparatively smaller and constituting the outlet tor the shearecl or fibrous material. It desired, the lower or revolving plate` may also be made slightly conical. The space between the two plates adjacent to the center, is considerably greater than the width ot' sugar cane stalk so as to permit the latter to be readily ted into this space and the centrifugal torce set up by the revolution oi' the lower plate causes the material it is sheared to tlow outwardly toward the outer edge of lower revolving plate.

'lhe knives 12 in the lower plate may also be beveled and are curved or scimitar shaped longitudinally and tit within similarly shaped recesses termed in the lower plate. The shears 12 ot the lower plate are deeper or thicker at their inner ends so that the knives project at their inner ends a greater distance trom the lower plate than they do at their outer edges. When the two plates with the knives are assembled the adjacent taces ot the knives are parallel and nearly in contact.

Secured to the top or liked plate or disk 7 is the circular trough shaped shield 17 which latteris secured tothe underside ot the upper disk 7 as shown in Figure 1, and projects downwardly, inwardly and upwardly and terminates well within the periphery of the lower disk 111, and close to the latter. This trough or shield 17 is as before stated circular in shape, and is so located that the shredded librous material which is ejected at the periphery ot the rotary disk is caught up by said shield or trough, and is carried around therein by the tan blades 18 which latter are rigidlyisecured tothe underside ot the rotary disk or plate 14, and operate by suction or air blast and by direct contact to carry the shredded material around and discharge the same through the spout 19, trom which it is carried by a conveyor or otherwise to the juice extracting apparatus.

The tan blades 18 project beyond the periphery of the revolving disk as shown and are enlarged at their outer ends as at 20, so as to project up approximately to or above the revolving disk 14 to engage the shredded material as it is ejected ronitlie periphery of the disk. These blades are approximately as large as the cross sectional area of the trough or shield 17 so as to not only act as tan blades and create ablast or suction, but also to push the shredded mate rial towa 1d the discharge opening and prevent clogging of the spoutor shield. This shield or spout is as before stated secured by screw bolts to the upper stationary disk, and also on one or'both pairs of'cross beams V21 which aie secured to the supportingmember 8, which aspreviously explained carry the upper stationary disk or plate 7.

The lower plate 14 as before stated, isse-V cured to the upper end of shaft 10, which latter ismounted in the verticalbearings 15 and is provided with the pulley 16 by which it isi'otated. Y

Int-he operation ot the apparatus the material which may be caneor other stalks,

or othermaterial, torbe disintegrated7 is fed into the machine by gravity through a hopper or hoppers `located above the opening 6 lor openings in'theupper plate 7. As the lower plate is rapidly revolved by a belt or a `pulley 16,' orbyV any suitable gearing, or

by a direct connection with a .vertical motor, the material will be thrown by centrifugal torce outwardly' between the shears on the upper and lower plates and Vcoming in contact with said shears will be disintegrated into a iibrous mass, and thus put it in a condition to be readily passed between juice extracting rollers without any further crushing. rlrhe lower knives being scimitar shaped. also have a tendency to aid the `progress of. the material from the center of the Yplates out towardsthe discharge openings between the plates. The knives are held to their respectiv'e'upper and lower plates by means ot bolts the heads of which are located Vin countersunkholes in the knives or cutters. I

y The shredded librous sections'V after' they are ejected from between the two disinte- 'grating disks is thrown into the trough'or shield 17 andis carried by the fan blades 1S around to the discharge spout19, which preferably discharges onto a conveyor `which carries Vthe Alibrous sections up orto thenjuice extracting apparatus which latter may be of any approvedV type.

v`While the drawings show theupper disk 6U"stationary and the ,lower disk revolving, I

do not wish'to limit myself to this arrangement but that the upper disk might also be revolving in a direction opposite to the` direction ot rotation of lower disk. The

Vproductfot themachine is aresult of the relative rotation of the two disks,"and this `be rapidly revolved and one lthem will be greater at the relative rotation can be obtained by either having one of the disks stationary and revolving the other, or as stated above, by revolving both of the disks but in opposite directions.

It is evident that many slight changesY might be resorted to in the relative arrangement oi parts shownV and described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, hence l would have itunderstood that I do not wish to coniine' myselfl to the exact construction and ar- .rangement of parts shown and described but, Y 1

vHaving tullyndescribed vmy invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus for converting` sugar producing material into a librous mass, consistinff ota member havin@ cuttino4 or shear'- Z': D Y

ing members on its lower face, a. second meinber having cutting or shearing members on vits inner face, the cuttingvor shearing member on the two shearing units of the apparatuscoacting to shredV or shear the sugar producing material longitudinally into a fibrous mass in contradistinction to grinding it into granular particles and one oi said members being mountedv to rotate` a shield embracing the periphery oi the rotating member, a discharge spout connected with said shield and means actuated by the vrotating member for forcing the material `tion to grinding it into granular particles,

the opposing faces on the two sets of shears I approximately' contact-ing throughout their lengths, a shield surrounding the' periphery of the rotating` member and provided withY a discharge spontand means .carried by, the rotating i member jand located within the shield for forcing the shredded material toward and out otlreexit spout. f

3. In an apparatusforV converting materialinto a fibrous mass consisting in a member having shear blades on itsinner tace. a

secondmember having shear blades on its inse'r l uc

iio

ner tace, and Vmeans for rotatingV one ot ,said Y members.;V and one of the latter being conical so'v that the space between them is greater at the center than at the periphery so as to pertegrating member provided with a discharge spout and means on the rotary member i'or projecting the sheared mass in the shield to the discharge spout ot the latter.

4i. In an apparatus for converting mate4 i rial into a fibrous mass, consisting in an upper member having shear blades on its lower 'ace, a lower member having shear blades on its upper tace, the blades ot' one oit said meinbers being scimitar shape to assist centrifugal 'force in carrying the fibrous mass vto the discharge opening at the periphery ot said members, means tor rotating one ot said members, a trough shaped shield en'ilinacing the'periphery oi the rotating member and means on the rotating member tor assisting in the removal of the material from between the two shredding members 'forcing the fr brons material to the discharge spout of the shield.

5. In an apparatus for converting .material into a iibrous mass in contradistinction to grinding into granular particles for the Subsequent extraction` oi the juice therefrom, consisting of a conical fixed member having shear blades, a iiat member having shear blades on its inner face, means for rotating the last mentioned member, a trough shaped shield embracing the rotating member, and

provided with a discharge 'spoutand means carried by said rotating member i'or forcing the shredded material deposited in the trough to the discharge exit in the latter.

6. In an apparatus forconverting material into a fibrous mass tor the subsequent ex i traction of the juice therefrom` consisting of an upper tired member having shear blades, a second member having shear blades on its inner `tace, means for rotating the lower member whereby the stalks will be carried outwardly lengthwise and around between the two shearing surfaces and iinally ejected between the peripheries thereof, a trough shaped shield embracing the periphery of the rotating member and provided with a discharge spout and `fan blades secured to said rotating member and moving within the shield.

7. In an apparatus for converting material into a fibrous mass t'or the subsequent extraction of the juice therefrom, consisting of a fixed member having shear blades, a coacting member having shear blades on its upper tace, means tor rotating the lower member whereby the stalks fed into the space between the two shearing members will be carried around and outwardly until it is thoroughly shredded in contradistinction to grinding it into granular particles, a trough shaped shield rigidly secured in place around the periphery of the rotating member, overlapping the latter and provided with a discharge spout and means carried by the rotating member and moving in the trough for forcing the shredded material to the exit or the discharge opening in the latter.

8. In an apparatus for converting material into a fibrous mass for the subsequent extraction of the juice therefrom, consisting ot a iixed member having shear blades, a coacting member having shear blades on its upper face, means for rotating the member whereby the stalks will be carried around with. its long axis at rightangles to the axis of the rotating member whereby the stalks will be shredded into a fibrous haylike mass in cont y"adistinction to grinding into granular particles, a` trough shaped-shield secured to the upper fixed member and embracing and overlapping the periphery rotating member, and blades on the rotating member and inoving in the shield, the said blades being ot' aj'iproximately the shape ot the cross section ot the trough or shield.

9. In an apparatus for converting material into a fibrous mass in contradistinction to a granular mass, consisting in an upper member `having shear blades on its lower tace, a lower member having shear blades on its upper face, one of said members adapted to be rapidly revolved and one of them being conical shapedso that the space between them -will be greater at the center than at the periphery to permit the material to be 'ted into the shearing space with its long axis approximately at right angles to the axis ot the revolving shear member, the opposing faces on the two sets ot shears being approximately horizontal and nearly contacting throughout their lengths.

l0. In anlapparatus for converting material into a fibrous mass in contradistinction to a granular mass consisting in an upper member having shear blades on its lower face, a lower member having shear blades on its upper tace, and means for rotating one of said members, and one of the latter being conical so that the space between them is greater at the center than at the periphery to permitthe sugar producing material to be fed into the space between the shearing surfaces, approximately at right angles to the axis of the rotating member, and the adjacent aces of the shear blades being horizontal and approximately in contact.

lll. In an apparatus for converting material into a fibrous mass, consisting in an upper member having shear blades on its lower tace. a lower member having shear blades on its upper face, both of said plates being grooved to receive the shear blades,

and' means for rotating one of said members and one of the latter being conical so that the space between them is greater at the center than at the periphery. I

12.. In an apparatus for converting material .into a hbrous mass., consisting in an upper member having shear. blades on its lower face, a lower member having shear blades on its upper face, the blades of one of said members kbeing scimiter shape to' assistv centrifugal force in carrying the fibrous mass tothe discharge opening, at the periphery of Vsaid members, and means for rotating'one of said members. Y ,f y

13. In an aoparatus for'converting material into f ous maf-:s for thesubsequent eXtract-ionof the juice therefrom in contra distinction to a granular mass,1consisting of an'upper conical fixed member having shear blades, a lower fiat member' having shear blades'on its upper face, and means for rotating thelower member.

14. In an apparatus forconverting sugar producing material into a fibrous mass from which the juice may be readily extracted, consisting of an uppermember, Va low-er mem-YV benone of said members being conical and the upperone provided with Va feed opening and bothtprovided with recesses for shear teetli,?and means for rotating oney of said members.

15. In an apparatus for converting sugar producing material into a fibrous mass from which tbe juice may be readily .extracted consisting` of al fixed upper'conic'al member,

a rotating lower flat member, each yof said members having grooves on its face adjacent the other member, shear blades located within said grooves and'pioj'ecting beyond the platestoward'each other, and means for rot-ating the flat member.

15.,In an Vapparatus for converting sugar producing material into aifibrousmass from which the juice may be readilyjextracted,`

consisting vof an upper conical-member, a

rotatingl llowerflat .member each of said members having grooveson its inner face the grooves on one member being scimiter shaped and shear blades mounted within said grooves and projecting beyond the plates toward each other, and means for rotating the lower member. f Y Y 17. In an `apparatus vfor converting sugar producing material into fibrous mass from Y which the juice may be readily extracted,

consisting of an upper fixed member, a lower rotating member, each of said members having grooves on its inner face, the grooves on the rotating memberbeing scimiter shaped, shear blades on both sets of grooves, those in the scimiter shaped groovesbeing corre? spondingly shaped lengthwise, the shear blades on both members mounted in the grooves and projecting beyond the plates to` ward each other, the adjacent faces or edges vof .the shearing blades being "substantially horizontal and approximately.vicontacting,

` and means for rotating one of said members.

18. In an apparatus for converting sugar .producing material into a fibrous mass-from rotating conical member, each of said inembers having grooves on its innerface, shearing blades eachhavingan inclined outer face to form a. shearingedge and means` for r0- tating oneof said members.

L V*In testimony whereof, I-have signed this specification.

wiLLiii'M HnNnYiioneaN, sa; y 

